1
as in feel
a feeling that something bad will happen
I had a nagging presage that the results of my medical tests would not be good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
the sight of the first robin is always a welcome presage of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to predict
to tell of or describe beforehand
people used to believe that a comet presaged a major event, such as the death of a king
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of presage
Jennifer Culp, Them, 16 Aug. 2024
As the ending of the story perhaps presages, Martha is on the cusp of a change in her life.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 28 July 2024
Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025
These machines, which retailed for $549 and $999, respectively, represented a leap in consumer-friendly personal computing, with their modular design and serial I/O bus that presaged USB.
—ArsTechnica, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for presage
Noun
The New Moon in Virgo, which occurs shortly after Mercury turns direct, presages really big beginnings throughout the zodiac.
—Jennifer Culp, Them, 16 Aug. 2024
As the ending of the story perhaps presages, Martha is on the cusp of a change in her life.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 28 July 2024
Verb
Over the years, Charlamagne built the kind of deeply personal relationship with his audience that presaged the always-on culture of content creators of the 21st century.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025
These machines, which retailed for $549 and $999, respectively, represented a leap in consumer-friendly personal computing, with their modular design and serial I/O bus that presaged USB.
—ArsTechnica, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for presage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presage
Noun
-
Just off the sand, antique shops and farm stands along the streets of Southampton give it a small-town feel.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
14 July 2025
-
The layout has an open and airy feel, with plenty of natural light and clean architectural lines.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Last week the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case Little vs. Hecox, which began in 2020 when Idaho became a forerunner for states with laws that ban trans athletes in women's and girls' sports.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 July 2025
-
For some years, the Octagon was home to Ohio’s militia, a forerunner to today’s National Guard; during the summer, soldiers would erect tents and practice training exercises.—
Kevin Williams,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
Rain showers and periodic storms are possible every day through Tuesday before humidity and heat were expected to build again in the Chicago area, the weather service predicted.—
William Tong,
Chicago Tribune,
19 July 2025
-
The National Weather Service in Indianapolis predicted strong and potentially severe thunderstorms Saturday afternoon into the evening, and the rain has just arrived.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
But then cut again several months, when, in fact, Lucas' premonition proved accurate, and Jaws essentially invented the modern summer blockbuster and became the biggest moneymaker ever.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
21 June 2025
-
Whether this would have been a sort of origin story for the series’ premonitions or simply a gory period piece is unclear.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Chinese authorities have since controlled a number of these precursor chemicals.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
-
As a precursor of sorts for CBS stalwart Survivor (which returns for its 49th edition on September 24), Big Brother is the perfect reality appetizer before the ultimate main course.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
These attempts challenge long-standing norms of academic freedom—that is, the ability of a teacher or researcher in higher education to investigate and discuss subjects without fear of political interference.—
Matt Motta,
Scientific American,
10 July 2025
-
Rather than basing trades on company fundamentals or earnings outlooks, many investors appear to be reacting to market trends and peer activity — a pattern commonly associated with FOMO, or fear of missing out.—
Spriha Srivastava,
CNBC,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Appearances aren’t deceptive; the portents are grim.—
Christian Schneider,
National Review,
12 June 2025
-
Thus, the negative GDP change should not be taken as a portent of looming disaster.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
Their visits to the ophthalmologist are now every six months, but Maggie admits the worry never quite fades.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
7 July 2025
-
Meanwhile, there was hand-wringing in the NASCAR garage over headlines about high crime and worries about whether the Cup Series cars would be able to have a good show on such a narrow course.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presage. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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